Court Blocks Ultrasound Requirement in NC Abortion Law

The latest legal skirmish over abortion has occurred in the Tar Heel State, and is part of a pattern of coordinated efforts around the nation.

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked part of a new abortion law in North Carolina, holding that providers don’t have to show or describe an ultrasound image to a pregnant woman or give her an opportunity to hear a heartbeat, the Raleigh News & Observer reported.

The law – which the state’s Republican-controlled legislature passed in July over Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue’s veto — was set to go into force today. Much of the law, including a 24-hour waiting period, was upheld.

The law was challenged by several North Carolina physicians and health care providers, on behalf of themselves and their patients, saying the ultrasound requirements forced them to deliver the state’s message discouraging abortions against their will, according to a Reuters report. The waiting period was not challenged.

U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles said those challenging the law showed they were likely to prove the provision violated their constitutional rights, and opponents of the law said they were confident the provision would be thrown out for good, according to Reuters. A spokeswoman for the state attorney general’s office told the News & Observer that its attorneys were reviewing the ruling.

Similar provisions requiring the presentation of an ultrasound to a pregnant woman have been blocked in Texas and Oklahoma. A recent report in Time described efforts of abortion opponents to enact “heartbeat bills” in all 50 states, and noted that Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn.) introduced The Heartbeat Informed Consent Act in Congress. Abortion rights advocates say that the heartbeat bills are an attempt to interfere with women’s right to make private medical decisions.

Bachmann’s bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce earlier this month.

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